Supporting assembly



July 18, 1961 E. MVUHLEMANN 2,992,454

SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY Filed April 8, 1959 FIG. 3

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nited States katent cc 2,992,464 Patented July 18, 1961 2,992,464 SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY Ernst Muhlemann, Oberwil-Zug, Switzerland, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Kulicke Frames, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 805,074 2 Claims. (CI. 24-73) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved supporting assembly primarily intended for the display and proper mounting of a picture, but also useful in numerous different other associations, such as for the purpose of mounting a mirror.

It is a primary object of the invention to furnish an assembly which may, for example, be applied to a picture interposed between a backing sheet and a transparent covering plate, and which, when so applied, will serve attractively to display that picture or other article and support it upon a fiat surface disposed horizontally, or vertically, or otherwise.

A further object is that of providing an assembly which may readily be applied to an article to be displayed or protected, and which, when so applied, will retain that article against all likelihood of damage for indefinite periods of time; the assembly being capable of being readily removed to free the article or picture when desired.

An additional object is that of furnishing a structure of this type which can be easily and economically mann factured and which may be applied for the desired purposes to articles of virtually any desired range of size.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of the complete assembly;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the rear of the same;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 2, and also showing the assembly mounted upon a vertical wall surface;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the assembly conveniently mounted upon a horizontal surface;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a detail ofthe assembly mounted as in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary edge view of a portion of a structure to be displayed or protected, and showing a unit of the support adjacent thereto.

As previously brought out, While the present invention may be employed in numerous different associations, it is of primary utility when serving to display and protect a picture. Such a picture, as shown in the drawings, may include a sheet 11 of suitable material, to the rear face of which a backing sheet is applied. Also, there may be disposed beyond the picture and in face-toface contact therewith a sheet -12 of glass or other transparent material. With such an assembly, the problem then exists of maintaining the units of the same in properly disposed relationship in a manner such that the picture will be attractively displayed. The same will be true of articles other than pictures, and in common with the latter, it will be necessary to furnish a structure which will allow of a support of the assembly either adjacent a vertical wall, for example, or upon a deck portion. To this end, a series of units are provided. Any suitable number of these units may be employed to achieve the desired result.

Attention is primarily directed to FIG. 3, in which one of the units providing the supporting assembly has been shown in enlarged scale, and to FIG. 2, to visualize additionally the face portions of a given assembly. Thus, there is shown a generally L-shaped clip member adjacent backing sheet 10 and which includes a shank 13 from the upper end of which an integral spring tongue portion 14 is struck inwardly. The length of this portion may be substantially equal to that of the shank. The base 15 of the clip is of a length greater than the width of the assembly to be retained and displayed. The outer end of the base terminates in a projecting portion 16, preferably of reduced area so that it will be relatively inconspicuous, but nevertheless adequate to overlie the transparent sheet or plate 12 or its equivalent and retain that part.

A securing member is also included in the assembly and preferably embraces a body 17 formed with an outwardly tapered opening 18. At its outer end this member is provided with an angularly extending foot portion 19. The inner end of body 17 is formed with similar portions 20, one to each side of the opening 18, which is continued through this grouping of inwardly extending parts. At this time it is to be observed that the outer zone of body 17 is of reduced area, as is also the foot portion 19. Beyond parts 20 the securing member is continued in the form of a bearing portion 21 extending parallel to body 17 and terminating in a flange 22 which is preferably bent, as shown, to extend in the direction of foot 19, or in other words, at an angle of less than to the bearing portion 21 To connect the clip with the securing member, it is preferred to employ a pair of tension springs 23. These have their outer ends extending through openings in the inner end of the clip and their inner ends extending through similar openings in part 20. With these openings being properly spaced, it is apparent that the portions of the supporting assembly may be properly disposed with respect to each other and without the springs conflicting with the parts. Also, with the springs being attached within the area of the outstanding portions 20, they act to force the edge of foot portion 19 into firm bearing engagement with the face of the backing sheet.

Now, in using the supporting assembly, it will primarily be understood that any desired number of units may be employed in association with a given frame or picture. In the present drawings, four of those assemblies have been shown so applied. As will be apparent, a greater or lesser number might be thus utilized. In any event, to provide the complete structure, a backing sheet or its equivalent will be utilized. As illustrated in FIG. 2, that backing sheet may have suitable score lines or grooves 24 cut into its face. If supporting assemblies are to be disposed in association with four edges of the picture or mirror, etc., then pairs of parallel score lines will extend perpendicular to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Otherwise, only one pair of such score lines, in parallel relationship, or even a single score line or groove may be provided. In any event, the distance between a groove and the adjacent edge of the assembly, to which the clip is to be applied, should be in excess of the distance between portion .15 of the clip and the flange '22 of the securing member with spring 23 in an untensioned condition.

Having provided the grooves 24 and assembled the layers 10, 11 and 12 in superposed relationship and with their edges adjacent each other, a clip member is applied to a desired edge zone of the assembly. In such application, its hook or inwardly extending portion 116 will bear against the outer surface of panel 12, if the latter is utilized. It is to be remembered that the length of base portion 15 is in excess of the thickness of the assembly. However, with the spring tongue extending in its normal position, the distance between the hook portion and the end of that tongue will be less than the thickness of the assembly. Therefore, that tongue will yieldingly bear against the outer face of backing sheet as the clip member is applied. Accordingly, the assembly will be subjected constantly to compression in the zone between the free end of the spring tongue 14 and hook 16. This will serve to retain the layers of the assembly by frictional contact with each other (regardless of the thickness of the assembly), and will also maintain the clip in position. Now, by stretching springs 23, flange 22, serving as an anchor, may be introduced within a groove 24. Due to its preferably angular disposition, it will be free from any tendency to accidentally displace from engagement with the side walls of a groove, having in mind the fact that springs 23 are stretched and therefore are exerting a definite pull on this element.

Under these circumstances, the clip and securing member will remain in the positions in which they have been disposed. Foot portion .19 will serve to maintain body 17 clear of the rear surface of backing sheet 10. This foot portion will also have a further function, in that the user, in applying a pair of opposed mounting assemblies and having positioned the clip members of those assemblies as aforedescribed and substantially in line with each other, will be able to bring his thumb to bear against one foot portion 19, and desirably, the middle or forefinger in engagement with the foot portion of the second assembly. Now, by simply exerting inward pressures by his thumb and finger, the two securing members will be drawn toward each other, so that their flange portions 22 may readily be aligned with and introduced into the groove or grooves 24. As aforebrought out, springs 23 will not interfere with other parts of the assembly, in that the reduced area of foot portion 19 will permit of the latter being disposed in the space between a pair of springs.

Thus, a complete supporting assembly is provided. It may be retained in this manner if desired. If, on the other hand, the user wishes to support the structure on a vertical wall, as in FIG. 3, all that will have to be done is to drive a nail 25 or other securing element into that wall, with the head of such element properly spaced from the surface thereof. Under these circumstances, with that head introduced through the portion of slot 18 which has major width, the assembly may be moved parallel to the wall to cause the head of the element 25 to lodge within the space inwardly of the reduced portion of slot 18, to thus secure the parts against movement.

. If a strut is employed to furnish an easel configuration, merely a rod 26 having a reduced end 27 need be utilized. This has been shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. With the rod of proper length and including desirable diameters, the assembly Will be supported in a properly inclined condition. To this end, it will be observed, the reduced portion 27 is simply introduced into the slot 18 and permitted to ride into the constricted end zone of the latter. The shoulder or flange provided by the enlarged part of rod 26 will bear against the outer surface of the securing member 17, so that the parts will be properly braced and retained against detachment from each other. When it is desired to remove the mounting assembly, it will be understood that all that will be necessary is to shift the securing member 17 in the direction of the groove within which flange 22 is disposed. This will free the flange for removal from that groove. Thereupon, the securing member may be released and the clip member detached from the assembly.

In lieu of spring strands 23, other constricting elements, such as rubber strands, might be employed. Therefore, the word spring where used in the appended claims is to be interpreted as including a functionally equivalent constricting element.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. An assembly for application to a desired number of sheets to retain and support the same, said assembly comprising a clip member of L-shaped configuration to provide a shank and arm, a sheet-retaining portion at the outer end of said arm, a securing member, an anchor at one end of the same, a pair of constrictible strands providing the sole connection between said members and having one end of each attached at laterally spaced points to said securing member adjacent its anchor and extending along the entire length of the securing member, the opposite ends of said strands being secured at laterally spaced points to the inner shank zone of said clip to thus have their bodies extend in parallel directions, the end of the securing member opposite its anchor having an effective width less than the spacing of said strands to lie between the same, a longitudinally extending body part included in said securing member, a transversely and inwardly extending bearing portion at one end of such body and adjacent its anchor, the said one end of each of the strands being attached to said securing member within the area of said bearing portion, the width of said body part being greater than the spacing of said strands, an inwardly extending foot portion at the end of the securing member body opposite said anchor and said foot and bearing portions serving to maintain the body part in a position spaced from the face of an adjacent sheet and overlying said strands.

2. In an assembly as defined in claim 1, a spring tongue integral with the shank of said clip and extending toward said arm to bear against the surface of a sheet and maintain the free end of said shank and the end of the strand connected thereto spaced from the surface of that sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,016,941 Horwitt Oct. 8, 1935 2,885,166 Lehni et a1 May 5, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 635,806 Great Britain Apr. 19, 1950 812,502 Germany Sept. 3, 1951 299,983 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1954 

